The box score wasn't necessarily truth in advertising, but it was good place to start when it came to defining these Golden State Warriors and perhaps where these NBA Finals are headed.

While the eye might have jumped to the top right, where the "44" in the scoring column said all that needed to be said about LeBron James' opening act, down toward the left were the numbers that spoke volumes of what his Cleveland Cavaliers are facing in this best-of-seven series.

Eight Warriors played at least 12 minutes. Ten played at least eight. All 10 scored. Yes, the extra period in Golden State's 108-100 overtime victory slightly skewed some of those numbers, but even before the additional five minutes, the Warriors' reserves were grinding down James' not-so-supporting cast.

"I do believe in our depth," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "We play a lot of people and we feel like over the course of a game and maybe in overtime we can keep fighting and good things will happen."

Depth in the salary-cap NBA is a luxury often sacrificed in the name of star power. As it is on the Cavaliers' roster. As it is was, is and could be again on the Miami Heat's roster. As it was when the Los Angeles Clippers came up short halfway through the postseason.

Ultimate Golden State success in this series still will be defined by Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

But there also is more there than mere splash.

There is Andre Iguodala at a reasonable $12 million on a contract that actually declines in annual salary going forward, Shaun Livingston at a manageable $5.3 million, Mo Speights at $3.7 million, Leandro Barbosa at the minimum, and, at least for now, Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green and Festus Ezeli on the rookie-scale gift that keeps on giving, and something that shows the value of keeping and developing prudently evaluated draft picks.

This summer, Green will go to the market. Barnes and Ezeli likely will follow the year after. It won't always be this simple, slotting everything into what became a hard cap this season for the Warriors.

But the lesson is there, that being proactive early with Curry's contract and finding the right pieces can make all the difference.

"I think that was a pretty significant factor, obviously," Cavaliers coach David Blatt said of Golden State's depth impacting Game 1. "In terms of numbers and in terms of the lift that they got."

The Warriors have swarmed the opposition all season, next-man-up a far easier catchphrase when there are so many next men up that you don't even have to summon David Lee, who stands as the Warriors' highest-paid player.

This is where the Heat struggled at times during James' tenure in South Florida, when there weren't enough quality next men up, at least not as many who could contribute and prove trustworthy.

By the end of this past season, the Heat's depth again was illusory, with all due respect to what James Ennis, Shabazz Napier or Tyler Johnson might one day become.

Perhaps if the Atlanta Hawks had remained whole, if Thabo Sefolosha, DeMarre Carroll and Kyle Korver had remain ambulatory, that depth would have worn on the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals. We'll never know. But we do know that such depth at least got the Hawks to the league's final four.

With the Heat still star-gazing, still envisioning a lineup that could have Hassan Whiteside, Bosh, Goran Dragic, Dwyane Wade and someone special from 2016 free agency, constructing necessary depth could be an ultimate challenge for Pat Riley.

The Warriors have shown how smart signings and deft drafting can change the equation. There is no doubt that when it comes to these Finals, they have something in reserve. It is a lesson staring the Cavaliers in the eye, a lesson the Heat and other would-be contenders would be wise to heed.

IN THE LANE

LONG VIEW: Among those scouting the EuroCamp in Treviso, Italy, through Monday is former Heat swingman Keith Askins, who now serves as the team's director of college and pro scouting. The event essentially is the European equivalent of the NBA's Chicago Pre-Draft Combine, a one-stop-shopping examination of the leading overseas prospects. While the event tends to mostly feature players eventually taken in the second round, Heat guard Goran Dragic is among those who previously have auditioned in Treviso. Clint Capela was among those to previously participate in the event, with the Heat strongly considering the power forward before he eventually was selected a year ago by the Houston Rockets (the Heat could have drafted him instead of Shabazz Napier). The event also features players who will become eligible for future NBA Drafts, as well as a Team USA under-18 roster of impending college recruits that will play a series of games there. That roster includes Miami Norland power forward Dewan Huell, who has offers in place from Florida State and Miami.

HANDLE HEROES: A pair of former Heat point guards stand among those who inspired now-ailing Kyrie Irving when it comes to his ballhandling, with the Cavaliers point guard taking time at the NBA Finals to note what he has attempted to emulate from Rod Strickland and Jason Williams. "Definitely watched my Uncle Rod, Rod Strickland a lot," Irving said, with Strickland actually his godfather. "Because he necessarily didn't finish over the rim, it was more or less under the rim and finishing over bigs and having that spin on the basketball. It was uncommon. Just his ability to switch and stay in the air." Irving added, "Also Jason Williams. OK, White Chocolate. Guys like that I've watched, and moves that they make on great defenders, I've tried to emulate. Then I'd watch it on YouTube, and I'd go out on my driveway and try it."

STILL WORKING: Yes, that is former Weston Sagemont standout Fab Melo on the comeback circuit, most recently among players working at IMG's center in Bradenton. Drafted out of Syracuse at No. 22 by the Boston Celtics in 2012, Melo's pro career counts only six regular-season appearances, all with the Celtics. After his 2012-13 rookie season in Boston, he was unable to make anything out of auditions with Memphis Grizzlies or Dallas Mavericks. He spent the start of this past season playing in his native Brazil before a failed bid to move on to a team in Puerto Rico. Previously a summer-league mainstay, he appears to be working toward another such audition, turning 25 on June 20. The NBA summer-league circuit opens July 4 in Orlando.

NUMBER: 1998

Last time the NBA Finals did not feature Kobe Bryant or Tim Duncan or Dwyane Wade. That was when the Chicago Bulls beat the Utah Jazz for the last of Michael Jordan's six championships.

iwinderman@tribune.com. Follow him at twitter.com/iraheatbeat or facebook.com/ira.winderman